UNHCR not happy with division among exiled Bhutanese

Kathmandu, November 10: Chief of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Nepal has expressed his concern and unhappiness over the division among exiled Bhutanese over the issue of a third country resettlement.

"This division is not what we want," UNHCR representative in Nepal, Abraham Abraham, said at the reporter's club on Friday.

Expressing concern over intimidation, which "might take place" in the camps, Abraham said, "We have equal fear of they are being misinformed about the third country resettlement."

UNHCR is not here to push anyone for the third country resettlement or repatriation or integration, he added.

He said the issue of third country resettlement should be a voluntary decision and well-informed choice of the exiled Bhutanese. He said the present state was an issue of concern and dismissed the claims that the UN body was biased on the crisis.

He had recently retuned from camp visit. He claimed that there are some exiled Bhutanese who are interested in third country resettlement. However, Abraham stressed repatriation was the best solution.

"Resettlement is a part of the solution to the long and protracted refugee crisis," he said adding that UNHCR is in "regular touch" with the Bhutan government. Bhutan News Service